Is upskilling becoming the new professional insurance?

In today’s fast-changing world, where artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping how we live and work, upskilling is no longer a luxury — it is a survival skill. The rapid evolution of technology has shortened the shelf life of professional skills, forcing employees to learn, adapt, and grow to remain relevant constantly.

“As the talent stack collapses due to AI tools, the workforce of today finds itself at a point where you have to keep upskilling in order to stay relevant,” said Arindam Mukherjee, Co-founder and CEO of NextLeap. He believes that investing in learning need not always be expensive. “Spending on upskilling is a choice – if you are disciplined enough, there’s abundant content available for free to make use of and upskill. But if you lack that self drive, a forcing function like investing in an upskilling program that provides you with the required guidance and support might be a better option.”

Mukherjee added that consistency is key to professional growth. “To become 1% better everyday, you need to devote the time – maybe one meeting or one OTT episode less and one lesson more is enough to help you keep learning and growing.”

Experts suggest that, as one plans for savings or insurance, allocating a portion of monthly income to learning pays long-term dividends. A realistic benchmark is setting aside 5–10% of one’s monthly income for professional learning and career development.

“For freshers, this could mean micro-certifications or domain courses, while for mid-career professionals, specialised programs in leadership, data analytics, or AI integration yield better returns,” said Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech. He cited recent findings showing that “over 65% of professionals who invested consistently in learning saw measurable career growth within 12 months — showing that small, regular investments matter.”

But should one stretch finances for expensive courses or stick to affordable options? Rooj said it depends on the clarity of purpose. “If a course offers strong employability outcomes, industry immersion, or placement support, financing it can be rational. However, affordable online or hybrid programs today often deliver similar value at lower cost.” He advised learners to focus on practical impact: “Learners should evaluate ‘career impact per rupee’ rather than just price tags. Verified industry data shows that short-term tech and management upskilling courses can improve job outcomes by 20–30% within a year — demonstrating that cost alone doesn’t define ROI.”

With 44% of job skills expected to change within the next five years, Rooj said learning should be viewed as professional insurance. “The ROI is qualitative but powerful: employability, mobility, and relevance. Professionals can measure returns through tangible markers — new job opportunities, promotions, or reduced career stagnation.” He suggested treating learning as a fixed annual line item, turning it into a sustainable habit rather than a reaction to market shifts.

Upskilling is also gaining policy and corporate support. Rooj noted that many companies now co-fund employee training through annual learning budgets or reimbursements, while government-backed apprenticeship and CSR-linked programmes are expanding access to affordable, accredited learning. Certain professional education expenses may also be tax-deductible under development allowances.

However, Mukherjee pointed out that organisational learning culture in India still has a long way to go. “In India, we are yet to see a widespread adoption of learning initiatives across organisations – L&D is still an afterthought in most companies. A lot of organisations expect their employees to learn and upskill but their rewards and recognition programs are still focused on impact versus rewarding these behaviours.” He added that limited internal mobility often restricts employees who are eager to learn from exploring new career paths.

Ultimately, the need for upskilling is about staying ahead in a world of continuous change. As Mukherjee warned, “If digital transformation left many of our parents’ generation behind, the AI transformation will have a 100X bigger impact.” Like retirement savings, consistent learning and skill-building today can secure a stronger, more future-ready career tomorrow.